How to upload and manage files

LokAI enables direct file uploading to the conversation, allowing the AI model to read, analyze, and utilize their content. All uploaded files can also be browsed and managed via a dedicated file manager.

Uploading files to the conversation

Method 1: Attachment button

1. Open an existing or start a new conversation. At the bottom of the screen is the message input field. On the left side of the field is a paperclip icon - this is the attachment button.

2. Click the paperclip icon. A menu with two upload options will appear:

• Upload image (1) - sends the file directly to the AI model for processing. Use this option for image files.
• Load files in full (2) - extracts text content from the file ( or multiple files) and inserts it into the conversation as plain text. Useful when only text content matters.

3. Choose one of the upload methods, then select the file (or multiple files) on your device.
4. The selected files will appear as thumbnails above the message field, confirming they are ready to send.

5. Type the message content (e.g., "Summarize this document") and press Send (the arrow button on the right).

Method 2: Drag & Drop

1. Drag a file from your desktop or file manager directly onto the conversation area in LokAI.
2. An overlay with a drop zone will appear with the message "Upload files - Drop any file here to add it to the conversation".

3. Drop the file over the upload zone.
4. A dialog box will appear asking you to select the upload type:

Descriptions of both options can be found in the Method 1: Attachment button section.

Select your preferred option. The file will then appear as a thumbnail above the message field, ready to send.

Method 3: Pasting from clipboard

1. Copy an image to the clipboard (e.g., via screenshot or right-click -> Copy image).
2. Click the message field and press Ctrl+V (or Cmd+V on Mac).
3. The image will be attached to the next message.

Upload limits

• Maximum file size: 25 MB per file.
• Maximum number of files at once: 50 files per upload.

File Search

File Search is a tool that allows the model to search the content of uploaded documents and find specific information within them. It is particularly useful when working with many or large files - instead of pasting their entire content into the conversation, the model independently searches for relevant fragments based on your question.

When to use File Search?

Standard file uploading (Upload image / Load files in full) works well when you want the model to analyze the entire file from start to finish - e.g., translate a document, summarize an article, or check code.

File Search is a better choice when:

• you have several documents and want to ask a question about their content,
• the file is extensive and you need to find specific information without reading the whole thing.

How to use File Search?

1. Enable the File Search tool by clicking the tools icon (1) (next to the paperclip icon) in the message field, then selecting File Search.

Once enabled, the File Search button will appear on the toolbar next to the message field in green, signaling that the tool is active.

2. Click the paperclip icon to upload files. An additional option will now appear in the menu - Build a knowledge base from many files (2). Select it to upload files to the search index. The File Search tool (1) remains active on the toolbar.

3. Select files from your disk. They will appear as thumbnails above the message field.

4. Type a question about the file content and press Send.
5. The model will search the uploaded files and provide an answer based on the found fragments.

Attach files - side panel

The Attach files section (1) in the side panel on the left allows you to browse previously uploaded files (2) and re-attach them to the current conversation (3) without needing to re-upload. To attach a file to the conversation, double-click on it.

To open this section, click the side panel toggle button in the top-left corner of the interface (if the panel is not yet visible), then click Attach files (paperclip icon) (1).

Additionally, the panel consists of three elements: a search field Filter files... where you can search for a file by name, a file list (2) with Name and Date columns, and a Manage Files button that opens the full-screen file manager.

My files - file manager

The My files window provides a complete overview of all files uploaded across all conversations. To open it, click the Manage Files button located at the bottom of the Attach files side panel.

The window contains a list of all uploaded files with information such as name, upload date, and size. Two columns require explanation: Storage indicates where the file is stored (e.g., Host - on the LokAI server), and Context specifies how the file was used (e.g., Attachment means the file was sent as part of a message).

The Filter files... field (2) allows quick file search by name. Clicking any column header sorts the list. The button (3) in the top-right corner enables hiding and showing selected columns:

To delete files, select them using checkboxes (4), then click the Delete button (1). The counter (5) in the bottom-left corner shows the number of selected files, and buttons (6) allow navigating between list pages.

Tips and best practices

1. Formulate precise commands. When uploading a file, tell the model exactly what you need: "Translate this document to English", "Find errors in this code", "Summarize the key conclusions from this PDF".
2. One task per file. If you need to perform different operations on multiple files, consider sending them in separate messages with individual instructions for each.
3. Reuse files. Instead of re-uploading the same file, use the Attach files panel to find it and attach it from the upload history.
4. File Search for multiple documents. When working with several files simultaneously and needing to find specific information, use File Search instead of standard uploading - the model will independently search for relevant fragments.